Folding crate.



R. B. FULLER.

FOLDING CRATE.-

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1915.

Patented Feb lllI llllllllll lllil III III win/2:555:51

w w m a THE COLUMBIA PLAI IOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

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RUSSELL B. FULLER, OF EVANS VILLE, INDIANA.

FOLDING CRATE.

assen.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

. Application filed June 14, 1915. Serial No. 34,043.

pressures, strainsand hard knocks to which crates are subjected in: use.

With these, and other not specifically mentioned, objects in view butwhich will appear more fully hereinafter, my inven- 'tion entirelydispenses with the locking catch of the Dahlstrom patented construction;employs a novel top construction at the locking end thereof, and alocking slat or bar; further, an improved construction at the other endof the top; still further, hinged members of improved form whereby theypossess greater strength than the hinge connectors of the aforesaidpatent; and

. finally, an improved combination of the hinge connectors or memberswith the top of the crate.

I have set forth hereinafter and disclosed in the drawings, thepreferred embodiment of the invention, but I am well aware that myimprovements are susceptible of modification within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective of the completecrate when closed and locked; Fig. 2, a plan View; Fig. 3. a side viewshowing the crate collapsed;

' Fig. 4, a detail perspective of a cross bar or cleat; Fig. 5, asimilar view of the locking bar; and Fig. 6, a perspective of one of thehinge members.

Theisides and ends of the crate appear at 1 and 2, the top at 3, and thebottom at 4. As shown in Fig. 3, the sides and ends are hinged togetherto permit folding, and also for the purpose of holding the top andbottom, by the hinge and securing members 5 which difier from the hingemembers of the Dahlstrom patent in that their bridging POFtiOIIS .21% pmanently curved. or bowed laterally in relation to the legs 7. lhe legs7 are pivotally connected to the ends and sides of the crate and thelaterally bowed portion 6 extends inwardly and is adapted to secure thetop and bottom in position. The bottom rests on the sides and itscorners are overlapped by the bowed portion 6 of the hinge members atthe bottom of the crate. The bottom is thus secured against falling outand. in turn, braces the sides and ends and prevents them fromcollapsing. The bottom can, however, be removed when the crate is to becollapsed as it has no other connections with the sides and ends.

The top 8 is composed of longitudinally extending slats, one of which,preferably the central one, is longer than the others and has theextension 8 so that it overlaps the end of the crate. The top also hascrosspieces 9 and 10 overlapping the sides of the crate. The outer slatsof the top are at one end cut away at 11 corresponding to the parts 6 ofthe hinge members 5 so that said hinge members at that end of the cratedirectly engage the ends of the slats constituting the top.

The means for locking the top 3 comprises a bar 12 which is adapted tobe loosely positioned on the extension 8 and to have one end slippedunder one of the hinge members 5 and its other end sprung under theother hinge member at that end of the crate. As the hinge members 5 arecon nected to the sides and the ends of the crate,.and the extension 8rests on the end of the crate, the bar 12 firmly holds the top in lockedcondition. At the other end of the top 3, the cross bar or member 9 hasits ends overlapping the sides of the crate, as does the member 10, andthis cross bar is provided with cut-away or notched corners 13 whichenable the ends of the slats constituting the top to fit in between thesides and the end of the crate while the ends 14: rest upon the sides ofthe crate. The hinge members 5 overlap the bar 9 and hold that end ofthe top 3 secure. In placing the top pa rt 6 of the hinge membersmembers greater strength and adaptability of the bar 12 is sprung underthe remainingmember 5, thus securely fastening the top in positlon.

0 gives these .tion, the ends of the locking bar 12 by their engagementwith the hinge members 5, hold said bar securely in position againstshifting longitudinally in relation to itself and this bar being adaptedto abut the edge oi the fixed cleat or bar 10, the lock which is thusprovided is secure and has no projecting parts to accidentally cause itsdisengage ment. \Vhen the top 3 is removed and the bottom ii. taken out,these parts can be placed within the crate and the latter folded orcollapsed, shoWn in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what The laterally bowed or curved Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Ina'folding crate, sides and ends, hinge members having legs pivotallyengaged with the sides and ends and provided with lateral bowedconnecting portions for said legs, a bottom held by the lateral bowedportions of the hinge members at the bottom of the crate, a top havingcross-pieces adapted to rest on the sides of the crate, said top at oneend" being engaged by the lateral bowed portions of the hinge members atthat end of the crate, the other end of the top being provided withcut-away parts at its corners to receive the bowed portions of the hingemembers at that end ofthe crate and also having an extension adapted torest upon the end of the crate, and a loose, bodily removable lockingbar adapted to rest upon the extension and to have its ends engaged withthe bowed portions of the hinge members at that end of the crate.

' RUSSELL B. FULLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. G.

